January-March 2025

OLS investigated Boyd GMN, Inc. dba GM Nameplate, Inc. for alleged violations of the Fair Chance Employment Ordinance. The company, which specializes in manufacturing environmental and energy products, operates one Seattle location and employs approximately 9,000 people worldwide. OLS alleged the employer rescinded a job offer without providing the applicant a reasonable opportunity to explain or correct the background check information that the company relied on in its decision to rescind. The company settled the allegations, agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $665.30 to the complainant, and agreed to develop and implement a written FCE policy and ensure its local HR Manager would attend FCE training. 

OLS investigated Guanaco’s Tacos Pupuseria for violations of the Wage Theft, Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST), and Minimum Wage Ordinances. Guanaco’s Tacos Pupuseria operated one restaurant in Seattle but closed it on July 1, 2023. Under the Wage Theft Ordinance, OLS found the restaurant failed to provide overtime pay, payment for all hours worked, meal and rest breaks, and the required notice of rights to three of its workers. Under the Minimum Wage Ordinance, OLS found the restaurant failed to pay the correct minimum wage to one worker and failed to provide the required notice of rights to three of its workers. Under the PSST Ordinance, OLS found the restaurant failed to provide PSST, failed to allow proper accrual of PSST, and failed to provide the required notice of rights to three of its workers. Under all three ordinances, OLS determined that the company failed to maintain the required records. Finally, OLS found that the restaurant retaliated against the three workers when they complained about missing wages. The total financial remedy was $200,160.50, which included $187,800.00 to the three affected workers and $12,972.50 to the City of Seattle. 

OLS investigated Herc Rentals for alleged violations of the Fair Chance Employment Ordinance. The employer, which rents construction equipment, has two Seattle locations and employs approximately 7,700 employees worldwide. OLS alleged the employer rescinded a job offer without providing the applicant a reasonable opportunity to explain or correct the background check information that the company relied on in its decision to rescind. OLS also alleged the employer failed to hold the position open for a minimum of two business days after notifying the applicant that it would be making an adverse employment decision. The company settled the allegations, agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $691.87 to the complainant, and agreed to develop and implement a written FCE policy and ensure its local HR Manager would attend FCE training. 

OLS investigated Proall, Inc. dba 14 Carrot Cafe for alleged violations of the Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance and the Wage Theft Ordinance. OLS alleged the restaurant failed to provide employees with required written notices of employment information and a written PSST policy. OLS also alleged the company failed to pay a single employee for one day of PSST use. The restaurant agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $844.82 to the single employee and $332.64 to the City of Seattle. 

OLS investigated the restaurant Qdoba Restaurant Corporation dba Qdoba Mexican Eats for alleged violations of the Wage Theft, Secure Scheduling, and Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinances. OLS alleged the restaurant failed to provide all required rest breaks to employees, failed to pay employees for employer-initiated schedule changes, failed to maintain required records under the Secure Scheduling Ordinance, and failed to provide compliant written notice of Qdoba's PSST policy to employees. Qdoba settled the allegations and agreed to pay $123,996.14 in back wages, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties to 89 employees and $1,995.90 in fines to the City of Seattle. 

OLS investigated Seattle Concessions Inc., a concessions provider at Climate Pledge Arena, for alleged violations of the Wage Theft, Secure Scheduling, and Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinances. OLS alleged the company failed to provide all required rest breaks to employees, failed to pay employees for some employer-initiated schedule changes under the Secure Scheduling Ordinance, and failed to provide compliant written notice of its PSST policy to employees. The company settled the allegations and agreed to pay $353,280.76 in back wages, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties to 685 employees and $1,164.28 in fines to the City of Seattle. 

OLS investigated TMUD Holdings, LLC dba Residence Inn Seattle University District (Residence Inn University District) for alleged violations of the Protecting Hotel Employees from Injury Ordinance. The hotel has over 100 guest rooms and typically employed fewer than 50 employees at a given time during the investigation period. OLS reached informal resolution of allegations that the employer failed to pay the full premium owed for hotel room cleaning assignments exceeding the square footage threshold above which employers must pay three times an employee's regular hourly rate for the remaining time worked in the day. The company agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $125,265.38 in back pay, interest, liquidated damages, and civil penalties to 12 affected workers. 

OLS investigated Wonolo, an online staffing platform that connects app-based workers with companies looking to fill jobs in various industries. The company settled allegations under the Premium Pay for Gig Workers, the Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) for Gig Workers, and the App-Based Worker PSST Ordinances. Under the Premium Pay Ordinance, OLS alleged that Wonolo failed to pay premium pay to workers for delivery drop-offs in Seattle and failed to provide a notice of rights. Under the PSST Ordinances, OLS alleged that Wonolo failed to provide PSST to workers, failed to provide a written policy, and failed to provide a notice of rights. The company agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $122,388.36 to 419 gig workers and $3,991.78 in fines to the City of Seattle.